A CONTROVERSIAL 406-home expansion on the edge of Salisbury has been approved despite repeated warnings over worsening traffic, flooding risks and mounting strain on infrastructure.

Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee gave the green light to Vistry Homes Ltd’s latest phase of the Wilton Gate development on Tuesday.

The scheme will bring 406 homes to 55 acres of land off Netherhampton Road, including affordable housing, public open space and a 5.5-hectare country park.

Plans include a mix of one to four-bedroom properties, with 36% designated as affordable housing.

The development will also feature drainage basins, landscaping, footpaths and wildlife habitats.

The development layout. (Wiltshire Council planning portal)

However, the meeting was dominated by criticism from councillors who argued the area’s road network is already under severe pressure.

Ward councillor Brian Dalton said many of the issues raised when outline permission was granted in 2019 had still not been addressed.

“The community most affected is West Harnham where there are a few thousand residents,” he told the committee.

“We will sadly get this development; that decision was made in 2019.

He said traffic on Netherhampton Road had risen by 17% over the past decade – which he described as the highest increase in Wiltshire – and spoke of “an almost continuous succession of temporary traffic lights, roadworks and tailbacks” linked to nearby building projects.

Cllr Dalton also highlighted flooding problems, saying the area had “never flooded” until last year, and renewed calls for a shared footpath linking Netherhampton village.

Wilton councillor Pauline Church warned the development would mean “more traffic, more congestion, more pollution and ever-increasing swathes of green environment disappearing under concrete”.

She criticised the lack of transport upgrades, questioned whether developers would fully honour Section 106 obligations and called for the R5 bus service to be extended.

Netherhampton Parish Council formally objected to the application, insisting there should be “no watering down” of previously agreed infrastructure commitments.

Salisbury City Council also opposed the plans, citing the loss of trees, parking issues and affordable housing levels falling below its preferred 40% target.

Despite the opposition, the committee approved the application, paving the way for the next major phase of the expanding Wilton Gate development.